Given that they were supposed to be on vacation and be otherwise unhurried, it occurred to me how extravagantly many of the girls dressed on this luxury sea cruise this year.
During the day, when they headed off on an excursion, they wore very smart clothes, chosen so that this-goes-with-that, with the newest type of clothing, glitter on their T-shirts, and cheery sun facemasks in bright colours. Some also carried liquid bottles in fashionable carrying cases.
There was more thought put into the night, when meals in the ship’s three dining venues inspired textiles, glitter, frills, new hairdos, higher heels, beaded handbags and large earrings. By the looks of their flawless coifs, they looked after spending their days at the hair and nail hairdresser.
I’m in wonder of this commitment to beauty. When I travel, I pare all over.
For this sail, I packed my backpack with five or six rolled-up cloth dresses, which frequently do me good. I always bring jewels, not because it’s good enough to be stolen, but because I certainly lose it – the ring left on lodge bedstands, the rings that come out at night and vanish into the aircraft seat, never to be retrieved.
There’s no place in my luggage for a high heel, and I certainly wouldn’t pack a dress I could wear only once. Dressing up when I travel is not about the genuine clothes, but the number of shoes needed to complete a search. Although some people do it, you can’t wear your boat shoes with a slinky black evening dress.
However, these ladies appeared to have some slick apparel on display in the gym and a different clothing and footwear for every event, from breakfast to aperitif. Their men dutifully follow suit, sticking ties on their jackets at nighttime.
I wondered about the bag involved. One of the advantages of cruising is that you can explore numerous places without having to analyze everything.
At the end of every day, servants are on hand to fold your clothing, hit your skirts, check that there are enough coat racks in the bedroom, and toss away the dirty shoes or cleaning. If you have limos door-to-door and people handling your luggage, changing your outfit five times a day is in the realm of possibility.
For some people, this seems to be the point of a cruise.
The biggest fashion brands, including Chanel, Gucci, and Ralph Lauren, have spliced an extra season into their annual calendar over the years. It’s known as “cruise” or “resort” and is intended for people looking for sophisticated holiday attire like kaftans and linen jackets at a time when only winter clothing is available in stores.
It was common to purchase brand-new clothing to display on a particular cruise. It was a special occasion, maybe experienced only every few years, unlike today.
People enjoy taking a break from their routine on vacation, and frequently they engage in a little role-playing or let loose a different side of their personality. Clothes can help that.
The craze for dressing-up is certainly not restricted to luxury cruises. Every ship has passengers who view the cruise as something that merits a little bit of artistic effort.
Cruise lines like P&O have regular themed events, such as rock n’ roll or 1920s nights. How many adults go to the trouble of bringing along extravagant outfits for that one occasion surprises me every time. And formal nights still happen: I’ve seen people sparkle like VIPs on the red carpet when there’s a reason to really put on the glam. By contrast, the world onshore is increasingly casual, where even kids wear their day clothes to nightclubs. In many circles, suspicious consumption is frowned upon (others, not so much). Concerned citizens are restricting their shopping to necessary items or investment clothing that can be worn repeatedly over the years because the wasteful fast fashion industry has been so devastating for our climate.
However, I’m all for wearing comfortable clothing and soaking up the moment. For some, a cruise is more than just a way to see the world; it’s also the setting for a marathon social gathering that might last weeks.
In many ways, cruising is the last bastion of dressing-up.